Texans' Deshaun Watson hosts shopping event for young football players

Eric Brown and Evante Williams get some product advice from Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson during a shopping spree to spend $150 gift cards awarded to the Southeast Falcons Football Association as part of grant from Dicks Sporting Goods Friday, Jul 14. less

Eric Brown and Evante Williams get some product advice from Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson during a shopping spree to spend $150 gift cards awarded to the Southeast Falcons Football Association as ... more

Photo: Kirk Sides, Houston Chronicle

Photo: Kirk Sides, Houston Chronicle

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Eric Brown and Evante Williams get some product advice from Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson during a shopping spree to spend $150 gift cards awarded to the Southeast Falcons Football Association as part of grant from Dicks Sporting Goods Friday, Jul 14. less

Eric Brown and Evante Williams get some product advice from Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson during a shopping spree to spend $150 gift cards awarded to the Southeast Falcons Football Association as ... more

Photo: Kirk Sides, Houston Chronicle

Texans' Deshaun Watson hosts shopping event for young football players

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Growing up in Gainesville, Ga., Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson didn't always have the luxury of sporting new tennis shoes or football cleats.

His single mother sacrificed and made sure he got what he needed to participate in sports, though. He eventually matured into a blue-chip recruit to Clemson and a national championship winner and first-round draft pick.

So, it was especially gratifying for Watson to host a surprise shopping event at DICK'S Sporting Goods in Friendswood for the Southeast Falcons on Friday. The youth football players received $150 gift cards to buy gear for their upcoming season and spent time shopping with Watson. The sporting goods company is donating one percent of all sales to its foundation to support youth sports teams across the country.

Houston Texans Deshaun Watson takes little leaguers on shopping spree

Media: ksides@hcnonline.com / chron.com

"When I was younger, I didn't have opportunities like this," Watson said. "My mom had to scratch and claw for everything she can for me to have the opportunity to go out and play football and also to have the gear and equipment to go out and perform.

"This is a blessing for these kids. This is an opportunity for them to enjoy and create these opportunities and build those memories. I came a long way from when I was a little kid."

Watson posed for photographs with the youth and gave them advice.

"I would just tell them to enjoy it and have fun," he said. "That's what I did when I was younger. I just went out there and had fun with my friends and built those memories that they're building today."

Any customer accompanied by a child wearing his or her youth team uniform this weekend will receive 20 percent off their total purchase.

"It's a great opportunity, not just for me, but for all the youth sports," Watson said. "What this does for them, it's awesome. I want them to have the same opportunity I had. It's cool.

"The fun part is seeing what their styles are. Each kid is different. One kid is looking for Jordans to rock. One kid is looking for cleats, gloves, visors. It's fun to pick their brains and see what they like."

Signed to a four-year contract that includes a fifth-year team option, Watson intends to be very involved in the Houston community.

"That's to get myself acclimated to the community and the people of Houston because this is where I'm going to be living for four years," Watson said. "I don't want to be a ghost that's kind of locked in a cage and not go out and about. I want people to see the real me, and the real me is being able to have new friends and new people and be in the community and help people out."